Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hey BizPeople:

My name is April. I know that by the pic, you woudl assume I was some former model or something. You would be half right but I never modeled seriously. Now what I want to do seriously is start my own business from home.

The funny thing is, I have no money. I can`t even say that I have limited income, there is none to spare. I have two young children (5& 2) and more bills than I know what to do with.

Long story short, I have been very entrepreneur/business focused for awhile. I have done so much research on running, starting, funding, and everything else. On top of that, I have a million skills and ideas.

My issue is: Just this morning, I arrived at work late because my 5 yr old is sick and after pleading and begging with the school secretary about how I can not miss work while my son standing next to me souding like he is going to cough up a lung, they allowed him into school just for today. This is the main reason that I have always wanted to start my own business preferrably from home. Not that I think that I would have more time...just more at liberty to re-arrange things without feeling GREAT guilt. Either guilt for having to shove my kid into school when he needs to be home or guilt for not going to work, pacing all day wondering if my job has had enough of the Mommy Blues.

Bottom Line: I have great writing skills but only a Comp 101 course I took in college under my belt. I have written business plans, designed products (specifications and all), and I have a catalog of many things that would be great  ideas. I am very stubborn about abandoning the idea of creating my own freedom.

I know that I am not asking anything specific but anything will help. Any ideas that I can try....any one that needs someone virtual to assist them in anything....Thanks Biz People

 

FYI: I know that alot of funding advice always says to look into family, friends, credit cards and all of those things.....those are not avenues for me.....just keeping it real!!!!

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www.EllayWestConcepts.net Ellay West Concepts (Freelance Commercial Writer)

Ellay,

What is it that you enjoy doing? You have to find that thing that you love and enjoy. The "thing" that you are passionate about. If it is writing than write like there is no tomorrow and save your work. You can become a content writer for companies. I own a website design company and there are plenty of companies that do not have content prepared for there websites. So you may consider emailing website design companies and offering your services to write content for there clients. I hope that this helps.

This is a very real question I once pondering. I haven`t found
any easy answers. I don`t have support from family (other than
my loving wife) but one day I just decided it was time to move in
ANY direction than the one I was following. I found no way to
achieve the start of my own legitimate business. After all, in
order to just be licensed, it costs money.

I saved, and hunted for days. My savings was the change from
grocery purchases. Of course this took so long to accumulate.
But it did. I found that even though I was only saving pennies a
day, it was more than my previous actions. It took 4 years. I am
now a proud owner of an online retail store. I eventually came
across other small business owners and worked out methods
of buying very small quantities of product at wholesale.
Working on the business process and my full-time job at the
same time… so many hours of work… I eventually quit my day
job and now operate my small biz full time. Now, two years later
I am started to find respectful statements in my friends words
instead of doubt. Don`t misunderstand. It`s been very difficult.

Another short story… A friend of mine started a legitimate
massage biz. She invested $100 for a used massage table
(craigslist.com), $200 for a simple popup canopy (Wal-Mart) to
stay out of the sun, and $35 for a space at the local swap meet /
flea market. She is doing well. She`s not rich, but she is no
longer unemployed.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words

Malcolm, Vince, thanks. I needed some reassurance....I know that I can make a dollar out of fifteen cents, I just have to be creative!!! I will keep you guys posted!!!!Thanks Again

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www.EllayWestConcepts.net Ellay West Concepts (Freelance Commercial Writer)

Hi April!

Thank you for being brave and putting a great question out there.  What you describe is so common for many people:  feeling squished in your current job, but not seeing where any cash to start up a new business could come from.

Malcolm and Vince have great suggestions.  I agree that really honing in on the work you are passionate about is the first step to starting your business.  I will offer this piece of advice from my own experience and the words of Robert Kiyosaki of Rich Dad Poor Dad fame:

Instead of saying "I have no money to start a business" replace that with "How will I get the money to start my business?"  I know it feels slightly esoteric, but the words you choose are extremely powerful.  The first statement stops you at a brick wall.  It is hard to argue with it - yep, in your current situation, you have no money.  But if you use the second, it opens up a whole new window of opportunity.  "How will you get the money to start your business?"  you and your friends could brainstorm a whole list.  Things like reduce debt, sell clothes you don`t wear anymore, take a moonlighting job on the side when you can (I know it is tough with kids).  My point is that there are ways to raise money if you have an open and curious mind.

Buddhist belief says that the words that come out of your mouth form a force-field of attraction around you.  So although it may seem crazy to you while you are struggling to pay your bills, say things like "I have plenty of money.  I will always have what I need.  I am whole and my life is abundant."  You may be surprised at what happens!

Two books I would recommend:  Finding Your Own North Star by Martha Beck and Zero Debt:  The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom by Lynnette Khalfani.

Good luck!  You can make it happen!

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Pamela Slim, Ganas Consulting. Need a little booster shot to help you finally leave your corporate job? http://www.ganas.com/mydeclarationofindependence

PamSlim:

First, thank you. And second, I am going to get those books. Third, I see exactly whatyour saying about speaking from a more positive point-of-view. With that second statement, it does open up a few areas in my over-curious mind. I believe this way of thinking, preparation, saving what I can and patience will get me there. I never thought hat being in business for myself would be easy because I don`t particulary like "easy" buttons. It is my plan and intention to put forth the effort and confidence it takes to make business happen. Thanks so much!!!

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www.EllayWestConcepts.net Ellay West Concepts (Freelance Commercial Writer)

Ellay,

       As somebody who has had many ideas....tried alot...and failed alot...I only know 1 thing....find what you love doing....and get good enough at some aspect of it that someone will pay you to do it.....I don`t mean to sound simplistic....but business is a lot of work, and you must love...you have started in the right place....internet business is a great way to start...very little overhead. Good luck....I have been raising 3 children (7,5,3 now) while running home businesses for years....for the same reasons you describe.

 

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Tim Claiborne
CEO Sports Investment Group
www.investinginsports.com
www.sportsinvestmentgroup.com

If you need to raise money www.prosper.com and www.fundable.org were to great resources recommended to me. Check them out they may be perfect for you.

Thanks TClaiborne:

What you are saying is very simplistic but you are in a group of many people including myself. I do believe that an entrepreneur should do something they love. I want to retire my "snooze" button and start my day wanting to get up out of the bed and get down to business.Thanks!!!!

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www.EllayWestConcepts.net Ellay West Concepts (Freelance Commercial Writer)

I`m sure I`ll sound like a broken record in no time, but the more you have to show for yourself, the better off you will be in terms of making something happen.

For example, do you have a blog dedicated to this idea (even if you aren`t willing to give away too many ideas yet) or some written plans?  If you`ve been steadily working on this for several months, blogging away things you`ve tried, things that worked, contact efforts you conducted, things that did work or lead to networking opportunities, people will see the level of commitment you have.  You could easy transfer it to paper and/or base ongoing plans off of those efforts.

As you probably know, anybody can get a free blog and a reasonably professional looking template at Blogspot.  You can even sign up for Adsense and perhaps make a few bucks here and there if you have something useful to write about -- perhaps submitting your writeups to some larger blogging groups that often solicit good content.  I keep leaning this way, but obviously if you aren`t doing something online, it may not apply.

Personally, my project is up and running, because I`m technical, with zero outside money, and I can point people to it and say "THIS, THIS IS WHAT I AM TRYING TO DO".  It shows I`m serious and that I have the ability to deliver what I promise.  Maybe that will help convince people to give advice, lend money, invest or otherwise partner with me.

Also, as has been said, and I don`t mean this in a negative way, nobody cares about reasons and excuses for why something can`t be done.  You can certainly moan and lament about them, especially in a blog or something, but never ever try to pass off an inability to deliver on anything short of a massive catastrophe affecting everyone in the region, such as a Hurricane or something.  Develop a solutions oriented attitude instead of a problems oriented attitude.

Regardless of the excuses you might have, you are either reliable or you are not.  If you must, then you need to adjust the deliverables you promise and give extended deadlines so that you can meet them.  Your credibility and your reliability and your skills are your currency.

Anyway, I don`t mean any of this as criticism, I only want to offer advice that can be applied going forward on any ideas you have.  Believe in yourself, work towards your goals within the means you have, be able to show people your progress and efforts, and don`t give up.  Often the difference between success and failure is perseverance and attitude.